How to Cover Difficult Gray Hair
Over time, the body creates peroxide that removes color from the shaft of the hair, resulting in gray and then white hair. This gray hair can be resistant to color treatments, and therefore is not always easy to cover up.
The problem with gray hair is that it is a different texture than hair that has melanin (color). The texture of gray hair is coarse and does not absorb artificial color as easily. It will fade faster than other colors, and in some cases not be covered at all after the hair coloring process is over. There are products on the market that are meant to cover gray hair only, leaving hair its natural color (Just For Men is one such product) and others that cover all hair regardless with the color of the dye.
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Instructions
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Pre-Treat if Hair is Mostly Gray
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Use a 20 percent hydrogen peroxide solution on hair. This opens the hair cuticle, allowing it to accept the color. Comb solution through hair and leave on for five to 10 minutes. Then rinse.
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Apply color. If you are coloring at home and not experimenting with a new color, be sure to buy a product that explicitly says it will cover gray hair. For instance, Clairol's "Loving Care" line of hair color is specifically made to cover gray.
If you want a new color entirely, try a semi-permanent color first to see if you like it, then follow up with the permanent color or go to your salon to have it applied.
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If you are coloring at home be sure to follow instructions to the letter, leaving hair color on for the full duration listed. Because gray hair is resistant to color it needs to be treated as long as possible.
Highlight for Fewer Grays and Less Maintenance
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Choose a color and highlighting kit if you are doing it at home.
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Following instructions on the box, apply color to gray hair first, as it needs to be treated longer, and then apply to other sections of hair.
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If you do not want to risk highlighting at home (highlighting is the trickiest kind of hair coloring to do yourself, as highlights can come out too chunky or bright), go to your salon. Many colorists are familiar with the process of covering gray, especially with highlights, and can custom design the colors to blend in naturally with your chosen all-over color.
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Tips & Warnings
When coloring at home, make sure you are wearing both a top and bottom that you wouldn't mind having dye on. Hair dye can drip and will stain fabric that it touches.
Look into fade resistant shampoos and conditioners for color-treated hair. There are many available at the drug stores and salons.
